well...

I had a big pile of costumes I promised to make for the dance department and today a lovely group of sewing volunteers came and picked all of them up. Since I didn't have any dance costumes left to make I decided to make another yoga tunic with some fabric from my Nana's stash.

I was excited about using this 70's vintage floral--I thought the light weight would be good for class and I like the retro look of it. (Unfortunately, being actually vintage 70's fabric, I think it's at best a cotton-poly blend.) The solid periwinkle is also from Nana--I used it before in Frances's Flying Geese duvet cover.

The pattern is Butterick 4684, which I used for my flowered yoga tunic. I wanted to try inverting the facing around the neck so it would be a contrast. I had to make up a facing for the back of the neck, but I think it worked out ok. (Nice wrinkles. I fished it out of the laundry to take these photos.)

So with the whole thing done... Well... I'm not crazy about it and I'm not sure exactly why. Maybe it's too wide in the shoulders. Maybe the contrast facing is a little too big--it might be better if it were shaped around the slashed neck. I added some top-stitching and I think that helps a little, but I think it just turned out a little TOO authentically vintage looking. I can totally see my mom wearing this in some faded Polaroid circa 1974.

I just have to remind myself that I have exactly $0 invested in this project and it did provide a perfectly acceptable top to wear to class, not to mention an enjoyable afternoon of sewing. We'll call that a win.

vintage cutie

I was out walking with the dog this morning and I happened on a yard sale along my route. I decided to take a look and found this cute little vintage syrup pitcher. I love the red bakelite on the lid and handle and the pretty design etched in the glass.

Here it is with the other one I bought at an antique store a few years ago. Let's just say that I got a MUCH better deal today. But if you average the prices... Well, they are really cute anyway and they make a great pair.

Oh, and my apologies to the other yard sale patrons for my hyper dog and sweaty, mid-walk self. We really were probably not that fit for polite company.

we interrupt this crafty blog...

This is not a cute craft or sewing project. This is my *very* ugly water heater. But trust me--it looks a lot better than it did yesterday when it was full of cold water.

But now it's sporting this pretty copper tubing, the new thermocouple that I installed my very own self yesterday. Many thanks to the lovely young woman from the gas company who diagnosed the problem (and complimented my cute house on her way through).

This is the old thermocouple, which, thanks to the internet, I figured out to yank firmly out of the burner assembly, even though the thought of messing with gas and fire gives me the willies. I am already thinking of how much fabric I can buy with the money I did not pay a plumber to fix the water heater.

On another random note:

This is the first cup of hot tea I've been able to enjoy since about June! It has finally cooled off here. Hooray!

christmas stocking for charlotte

Why am I looking at Christmas books in October? Well, any crafter knows that there's very little time for Christmas crafting once you get anywhere near the Christmas season itself. Let's face it, anything left undone when you hit December does not have a great chance of making the holiday. At the very least, trying to get a lot of homemade holiday stuff done after Thanksgiving is not likely to fill you with cheer.

So this year I started early. I actually got a couple of things done in February but I'll post some pictures of them later. In the last couple of weeks I started thinking about stockings.

Fifteen years ago I used the Babar book as inspiration for this Christmas stocking for Frances.

I cut all the pieces out of felt and glued them down with some ribbons to accent the presents in Babar's sack.

I embroidered the stars in the night sky with silver threads.

About five years ago I made another stocking for our friend Shelley's daughter Sophie featuring Maisy the Mouse. This is where I would show you what the Maisy stocking looked like, but it never occurred to me to take a picture of it. I'm hoping Shelley will send me one this year when she opens up her Christmas stuff.

This year I made another stocking for Shelley's second daughter Charlotte. I adapted it from an Olivia illustration I found online. 

The cookie sheet with gingerbread men was in the original but I added the tree and the presents for some added interest.

The stockings are nice and big to accommodate plenty of loot, and I lined the front side so when Santa stuffs the stocking, nothing will catch on any embellishments.

I hope it will be part of many Merry Christmases for little Charlotte!

It's still too hot to finish painting the outside of the house, so I've started on the next project! More to come!

goat girl skirt

Today I made a skirt. But wait, I've made lots of skirts. Today I made a skirt from scratch. Like I started with measurements, made a pattern and then made a skirt.

I started with a post on Crafterhours--one of my favorite sewing blogs. I loved their picture of the Milkmaid Skirt, but their pattern just didn't work out for me. So I ripped apart my first attempt and remade it from their picture. (And totally copying their pocket directions--thanks!)










That Frankenstein creation became the pattern for this cute green plaid number. In honor of the Milkmaid, Frances thought I should call it the Goat Girl Skirt.

Here's a detail. Check out the little ktw embroidered tag! Still working on some professional woven tags. Coming soon!

Won't it be cute with a pale pink cardy? I thrifted this gem (Ann Taylor) last summer--now I'm just waiting for a day under 90 to wear it.

While I was working, Chloe was enjoying a new fire hose toy. She enjoyed it very efficiently, because it only took her about 20 minutes to remove the stretchy handle and elastic. We'll see how long the rest of it lasts. Chloe the Destroyer.

good day at the Goodwill

I ran by the Goodwill while I was out today and got some great deals. In addition to all this, I also got a pillow (too absolutely ugly to photograph) to use the form inside for a pillow cover we brought back from Hawaii.

Sarah Vowell and Geraldine Brooks hardcovers: not dirt cheap but worth it! Rubbermaid 1 quart bottle for .99--score!









Now for the real treasures:

How about this beautiful Indian skirt--that's gold embroidery and sequins on there. The Indian lady I met there was curious about what I was going to do with it. I don't know ... pillow covers? $5.49

Black velvet polka dot tablecloth. This will be a great addition to the Halloween Party kit. $2.99

Cole Porter on vinyl with this great cover! That's going in a frame for sure. Now I have to YouTube "A Little Rumba Numba!" $1.99

And to top it all off, how awesome is this cotton canvas from Ikea?! Two giant curtain panels--5.5 yards of 100% cotton! What will I use it for? Who can tell? Something very cool indeed. $9.99





I got the entire haul for $34.42. Not bad! I promised myself I would stay out of the clothing and just look at the housewares. Next time clothes!

more julia

Here's the latest in my own personal Julia Project--the one where I only cook the things that look good and easy. No aspics or duck boning here. Mastering the Art of Easy French Cooking.

Vichyssouise (cold potato leek soup). Heavy cream, fresh chives, baguette on the side. Good when it's going to be 92 degrees today.

I really need to learn more about photographing my stuff. I swear it looked better in person.